The final regular season series for Oklahoma State is just another weekend series
“Just going into it thinking that it’s just another weekend,” shortstop Kiley Naomi said. “I think just playing good softball and sticking to our plans is what we are going to focus on.”.
The No. 7 Cowgirls have been up and down in the back half of the season, losing five of its last seven games, including a 5-1 loss to North Texas on Wednesday.
Now comes the ultimate test – the No. 1-ranked Oklahoma Sooners
“They’re the best team in the country for a reason,” OSU coach Kenny Gajewski said on Tuesday. “That Oklahoma across their chests and that championship mindset can screw around with your head if you let it.”
Since Oklahoma’s 4-3 loss to Baylor on February 19, the Sooners have won 38-straight. They lead the country in virtually any hitting category possible, including batting average, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.
“Their offense is still that crazy, powerful offense,” Gajewski said. “Their doubles aren’t as high, but they’re still scoring runs.”
OU isn’t a one headed monster. The Sooners are led by Jordy Bahl, Nicole May and Alex Storako, who all three are in the top 10 in the country for ERA. They have combined for 338 strikeouts, including 130 from right-handed pitcher Bahl.
“I think they have…nine or 10 games in a row where they haven’t given up a run,” Gajewski said. “I don’t care where you’re at. That’s hard.”
OSU will rely on the pitching in the series as it is No. 12 in the country in ERA. The pitching staff will lean on Kelly Maxwell and Lexi Kilfoyl, who have an average ERA of 1.61 this season.
Kilfoyl, who has a 1.74 ERA this season, will square off against the Sooners for the first time in her career. The senior isn’t going to pull out any new tricks against the Sooners.
“I’m super excited to see our team compete against them,” Kilfoyl said. “I try to look at it as any other game. Go out there with my best stuff and try not to let it get to me too much, but I’m excited. I guess we kind of try to look at it as just another game.”
Oklahoma State’s first crack at the top-ranked Sooners will be on Friday at 6 p.m. in Stillwater. Game one of the series will be on ESPN2.
